Justification:Pultenaea whiteana is listed as Vulnerable in view of the highly restricted distribution of the two known locations within the Mount Barney National Park in Queensland (extent of occurrence is ~240 km2). The population of this small shrub, that grows at high altitude in heathlands and forests, contains fewer than 1,000 individuals. There are threats to the area including changes in fire regimes, habitat degradation through increased tourism, changes in habitat due to introduced species and impact from climate change, intensifying fires, increases in temperature and soil erosion. It is recommended that population numbers and range, habitat status and level of threat are continued to be monitored. If the threats are confirmed to be impacting this species then it would qualify for listing as Endangered under criterion B1ab(iii).

Small shrub that grows in heathlands (associated with Acacia brunioides) or as understorey in Eucalyptus codonocarpa forest. It is recorded from montane shrublands and heaths and on cliffs (de Kok and West 2002).

There are no direct threats to this species, however, the rainforests of the area were extensively cleared over the past 200 years for agriculture and large scale mechanized logging, reducing their distribution and affecting the viability of the remaining patches (Department of the Environment and Heritage 2000). The Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage Area receives up to two million tourists each year, even simple activities like bushwalking can lead to vegetation damage and soil erosion. Furthermore, the vegetation of the reserves is affected by introduced fungal pathogens, weeds and animals (weeds of major concern are mistflower, lantana, camphor laurel and Madeira vine; and pest animals include pigs, foxes, cats, goats and wild dogs). Climate change is the most threatening process impacting relic species in restricted habitats at higher altitude, with changes in fire regimes, acidic rainfall, increased erosion and increase in temperature identified as major threats as a result from climate change. More extreme and more frequent wildfires are likely to have a major impact on the fire-sensitive rainforest and alpine forest communities and the organisms that they support (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2010; Department of the Environment and Heritage 2000; Heath 2008). A 1°C rise in temperature, expected to occur by about 2050, could result in a 50% decrease in the area of highland rainforests in the Wet Topics of Queensland world heritage property (Heath 2008).

Only known to occur within the Mount Barney National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage area. A management strategy for the National Park was in preparation in 2000 (World Conservation Monitoring centre 2008). This species is not listed as Threatened in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), however, it is listed as 2RC-t by Briggs and Leigh (1996), a rare species with a geographic range less than 100 km2 with less than 1,000 plants known to occur within a protected area, total known population occurs within the reserved area. It is also listed as Vulnerable wildlife under the Nature Conservation Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2010. It is recommended that the seeds of this species are banked as an ex situ conservation measure, and that monitoring of the population, habitat status and level of threat are continued.